
How to Spend 1 Day in Nashville
Here’s how to dive into the very best of Nashville in just one jam-packed day.
Travelers can visit independently or on a Nashville tour—ride a hop-on hop-off trolley and stop at the Ryman Auditorium for a self-guided tour or take a guided backstage tour to see dressing rooms, exhibits, multimedia presentations, historic memorabilia, and artifacts.
Music history buffs may prefer to visit the auditorium on a walking tour of downtown Nashville, to hear stories of the city’s must-see sites, while foodies can stop by the Ryman on a culinary tour. Alternatively, combine a visit with an evening tour of Nashville featuring live music and a traditional barbecue dinner.
Café Lula, the Ryman’s on-site dining venue, serves up local food and drinks from 9am to 8pm every day, with extended hours for concerts and events.
Cameras are permitted during daytime tours but are not allowed backstage.
There are no coat check facilities.
The Ryman provides wheelchair escorts during nighttime events for guests with limited mobility; accessible ticket options are available.
The Ryman is centrally located in the heart of downtown Nashville, at the junction of Broadway and Fourth Avenue. The entrance is located on the Fourth Avenue side of the building. The site does not have a dedicated public parking lot.
The Ryman Auditorium and museum are open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Tours are offered daily between 9am and 4pm. The most popular time to visit is from April through October, when warm weather brings Music City to life. Winter is the city’s off-season, when visitors may find lower prices.
Although it’s the original home of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry country music concerts, the Ryman stage has seen superstars of every genre. Artists such as Paul Simon, the Pixies, MGMT, and even Houdini have performed here, in addition to comedians Joe Rogan and Bill Burr.